astrology

Study of the relative position of the planets and stars in the belief that they influence events on Earth. The astrologer casts a horoscope based on the time and place of the subject's birth. Astrology has no proven scientific basis, but has been widespread since ancient times. Western astrology is based on the 12 signs of the zodiac; Chinese astrology is based on a 60‐year cycle and lunar calendar.

History
A strongly held belief in ancient Babylon, astrology spread to the Mediterranean world, and was widely used by the Greeks and Romans. It was also popular in Assyria, India, and Egypt. In Europe during the Middle Ages it had a powerful influence, as kings and other public figures had their own astrologers; astrological beliefs are reflected in Elizabethan and Jacobean literature.

In Chinese and Hindu thought, the universe is seen as forming a pattern in which everything is linked. Human life should be lived in harmony with this pattern, and astrology is seen as one way of helping people to do this.

Popular prediction
In the UK, the first edition of Old Moore's Almanac, which gives a forecast of the year ahead, appeared 1700, and there have been annual editions since. Astrological forecasts in newspapers and magazines are usually very simplistic.

During the latter part of the Middle Ages, and even as late as the 18th century, individual astrologers often enjoyed positions of high privilege, because it was thought that they could forecast the future.

Hindus use astrological forecasts for important occasions such as marriage. Their belief in astrology is closely linked to reincarnation, for the time of birth is thought to reveal the nature of the individual's past life.

The nucleus round which astrology developed was the belief that divine energy was manifested in the movements of the Sun and the planets. The correct interpretation of the position of these was a key to the will of heaven. Gradually the system was enlarged to take into account the relative positions of the planets and their positions relative to the fixed stars and constellations. The various planets were associated with various emotions and other qualities, and with the various parts of the human body. Not only the position of the planet was important, but which particular sign of the zodiac it occupied and which astrological house. The houses are divisions on a horoscope chart relating to specific areas of life.

In addition to these hypothetical connections, there was the theory of repeated omens, such as the belief that if a certain event happened while a certain planet occupied a certain position, the recurrences of that position of the planet would also foreshadow a recurrence of the event.